Fire-shield for belt-openings.



D. s. WATSON. PIRE SHIELD FOR BELT OPBNINGS.

' APPLIOATION FILED SEPT: 15, 1910.

11,058,283. Patented' Apr. s, 1913.

2 SHEBTS*SHEET 1.

,1). s. WATSON. FIRE SHIELD FOR BELT OPENINGS.

l APPLICATION FILED,SEPT.15,`19`10.

A fron/1 Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'pagina strains nur eration.

FIRE-SHIELD FOR BELT-OPENINGS.

Application filed ISeptember Specification 'of Letters Patent.

15, 1910; Serial No. 582,180.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. l

This invention relates to certain"improved ments in tire shields for belt openings in floors, ceilings and side walls'of buildings` to allow free movement'ot the belt therethrough under normal conditions and to ef-` ectively close the opening incase of lire.'

The main object isV to produce a commercially practicable article of manufacture capable of' being easily and quickly installed around the belt opening and adjacent' por-- tion of the belt, and providedwith agravity operated closure controlled by a fusible detent which is ,destructible by a comparatively low degree of heat for permitting the automat-ic operation of the closure to 'oliec- `tively prevent the passage-of the Haine or' smoke from one room to anotherv ythrough'V such opening.

Another object is to associate theelements of the retaining'means for the Weighted ciosure in such manner as to relievet-he fusible detent from excessive strains, thereby 1n'- creasing the permanency and reliability'ofj the-apparatus for an indenite period of4 time.

out in the following description.l

ln the drawings Figures -land r2 are perspective views or my1 improved re shield as applied to an upright wall or n*5- is front view of a partion of the' shield" showing particularly the weight controlling levers and fusible detent. Fig. -6 is a side elevation of the upper portion of my improved re shield showing a modified form of retaining means in which two fusiy ble detents are connected to a link which wall in which the belty passes through the opening is fcrined. Fig. -7 1s a vertical sectional view of a modified' torna of my in- Other objects and useswill be. brought4 yention as used in connection with belt openings'in a oor or ceiling, the parts ,being shown in their normal positions as retaining the weighted closure in its open position. Fig; ---8- is a similar side elevation partly 'of the supporting brackets, the Weighted closure being. closed and its controlling parts released. I

y The' deviceshown in Figs. -1-- to -6 inclusive is adapted more 'particulaiglv for belt" openings as a of upright walls'for partitions -Z- and preferably comprises a hollow rectangular shell -1- having one of itsupright sides secured by suitable fastening means as bolts 2* to the face of the wall --b-l and provided with-a belt opening 3T registering with the o ening @ez-f for receiving' a belt tends through a` similar opening 1lin the front., side oth the shell -1. These openings cz-i, -3- and -4- are of ainfple size to permit the free operation of the beltl efwithout friction with vthe sides lthereof although for f obvious reasons vin sides ofV the belt is greater than at thek edges thereof. The 'opening tis preferably Aformed by cutting away the lower? front eornerof the shell diagonally so as to partially/'underlie the superposed portion of the jinternir ofthe shell, leaving a limiting stop ,bottoni of the shell or lower yedge of the bpening, the upper end ofthe 'shell being exclude dust and other foreign matter there'- froin and at the saine-time torni an inclosed A weighted rclosure f7- preferably conequivalent fire. proof material is movable vertically within the shell -landisot sufcient surface area" opening-4f when in its closed position. In the present instance, the opening e is of substantially the saine length as the distance between the sides of the shell, While the closure -7- is of substantially the saine' length as the opening and of a diameter substantially equal to the distance between the front and rear sides of the shell leaving just sufficient clearance to permit the free vertical movement ot'said closure to and from tS lcl0sed position. This closure isF Yatented Apr. 8, 1913.

inasection of the saine device, showingone' practice, the clearance at the opposite flatl closed by a suitable cap or hood -6- to..-

'or forwardly projecting ledge --5- at the compartment except for the openings therein. i

sisting o1c a cylindrical' shell of inetalo/r to entirely clo'se/ the MGI normally held in its up or open position by a movable detent or pawl 8- which in this instance is pivoted to a forwardly projecting bracket 4lon the front side of the shell *1- and is provided with a forwardly projecting shoulder -10- normally 'engaged with the lower end of an upright lever -l1-,- the latter being also plvoted to the bracket -9- directly in front of the axis of the pawl -.8. The upper end of the lever -fll' is connected by a fusible link -l2- to a suitable anchorage'vor hook -l3- on the front side of the shell e114, said link consisting in part atleast-of a soft solder. adapted to be fused or melted un'dcr a comparatively low degree of heat: The

arm or shoulder 10- of the pawl engages the lower end of the lever 11 between the fulc'rum of said pawl-and lever and preferably 4in close proximity to the fulcrum of the lever llso as to` relieve as far as practicable excessive strains upon the fusible link m12*i ,thereby increasing the.

, permanency and reliability ofthe fusible link in its c'operation with the lever and pawl -8-in normally holding the weighty ed closure -7- in. its open position for an indenite period of time or until the in tegrity of the link is destroyed by heat in case of re.

It will be observed that the shell 1- including the bottom portion or ledge -5- projects some distance from the face of the wall -b around the opening rz-fthe purpose of which. is to prevent as far as possible the passage of lire or smoke which may originate inthe room in which the shield is located from communicating through the opening an to the other parts of the building and at the same time deflecting the .heat of As uch re toward the fusible detent --lEZ-` to more quickly destroy the same and therebyv release the lever lland pawl -Sf' from their holding positions to allow the weighted closure -7- to gravitate across and effectively close the opening 4- before the lire has gained any great.

head-Way.' As soon as the weighted closure -7- isreleased, it immediately drops by gravity against the belt and impinges the latter against the ledge --5-, as shown in Figs. *2* and In Vsome i11- stances a iremay occur and the weighted closure -7- released *while the belt is in action and in order to preventany' damage to the shield under such`v conditions, the yweighted closure -7- is made in the form of a roller having a free rotary action in the shell -1- so as to roll under frictional contact with the belt while it 'is pressed against the ledge -5 the front edge of f said ledge being delective away from the Y -belt so as to permit said belt to rideacross the same without liability of abrasion yor cutting.

noeaaee rIt will be seen upon reference to' Fig. -3- that' the inner end of the pawl -8- engages the periphery of thefcylindrical closure --7- some distance below its horizontal diameter so that the direct distance ery with vthe pawl 8.- and back of the shell 14- is less than suc'h diameter which4 causes the pawl to effectively retain the elosure in its normal up or open position. As .the pawl *8f4 is released by the fusing of .the detent Ei-7 the'weight of the closurfe 7- presses the inner end ofthe pawl.

downward,A thereby rocking its outer end forward Aand similarly rocking the "lever -'-ll.-joutward, thus permitting the weighted member -7- to force the inner end'of y vthe pawl out of its path of movement.

The fusible link M12-.may be of any suitable construction capable of destruction under a low degree of heatA and as shown more yparticularlyin Fig. .-3-3 this link consists of separate metal sections soldered together by the fusible solder intermediate vtheir connections with the hook -l3 and lever -fllso that they will readily separate when the solder is melted.

In Fig. 6'- is shown a .slightly modified '70 between the points of contact of said peripheffectively cut olf communication between I the two rooms through the passage -a-j..

In Figs. -7- and -8 is shown a mdified form of shield adapted to be used in connection with belt openings Vin floors as extending through the belt opening as -asome distance above and below said floor and secured to the under side thereofby suitable supporting brackets .-20-. I have only shown one of these brackets in Fig. -8-

although it is evident that another one may'- be secured to the licor at the opposite side of the shell ,-l"-. In vorder that the belt laS x-cmay be passed through the opening .-a* at different angles', the shell -1- is adjustably mounted upon a bracket 20-- to conform to such angle and for this pur ose is connected to said bracket by a pivotal olt -21 and additional clamp bolt *22,- which is movable in a slot 23- in the bracket 4at one side of and coneentric'lwith the axis' of thelpivot `f2ll--. that when the clamping bolt Q2- is loosiusy It is now .clear noaa-eee ened, the' shell -1- may be tilted to'diiercnt angles and retightened in its adjusted position by said clamping lbolt. This shell is provided with albelt opening therethrough of sufficient size tov afford ample clearance for the belt without friction and is also 'proe vided with a lateral offset #-24- for normally receiving the weighted closure -25-, similar to the closure -7-L The offset' 24T- is preferably curvedl to conform to" the circular periphery of the closure front to rear to 'a-width somewhat less than the diameter of the closure -25- so as toprevent displacement of said closure of 'the shell by gravity 'when in its closed position. The means for retaining the closure in its open position -or within the odset -24- consists of one or. more lugs -26- and a slidable pawl or detent -27- normally engaging the periphery of said closure at opposite sides and just inside of itsaxis so that' the distance between the points of contact is somewhat less than the diameter of the olo sure. As 'shown in the drawings, the lug m26- projects inwardly from and is rigidly secured'to one side of the shell -'labove the axis of the cylindrical closure -25- while the pawl ordetent #9.7- engages the lower sideof the-periphery and normally supports at least a portion of the weight of said closure. This pawl -27- is movablevertically' in a guide slot -28-4 in the adjacent side of the shell -land is v provided with a 'downwardly extending arm -29- `which `rests upon a -lever -`30. rlhe lever 1-30-- is pivoted atv-31% to a' suitable lug on the adjacent side of the shell 4-1- ,and is provided with a forwardlyextending` arm which is connected by a fusible detente-324- 'to a hook shaped extremity -33- on the pawl -27-. lhe extension 29 of this pawl normally rest-s upon the intermediate portion of the lever -.30, preferably inclose proximity of the pivot -3iso as to relieve as far as possible normal strains upon the fusible detent -32 for the purpose of increasing the perinanency and reliability of the latter in holding the closure in its open position for an indelinite period of time-or until released by the destruction of the fusible detent by heat. Under such conditions it is evident that the weight of the closure Q5- upon the pawl -27- and intermediate portions of the lever -30- will force the pawl downwardly suioiently to release the closure -25 which will then gravitate into the lower end .its operative position.

of the' shell -l the' shell, thereby edectively closing the belt opening through said shell. The cylindrical form of the 'closure -25- permits it to roll with the beltin case such belt should be in action when' the closure is forced to its, closed position.

rThe operation of my invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying' drawings and alcal it is evident thatother forms of closures may be employed with e'hciency and that vthe detailed construction of the retaining means and ini-pings the vbelt against the opposite side of the lower end of though I have shownv the closure 'as cylindril for' saidy closuremaybe modified without departing lfrom the spirit-of my invention.

What I claim is: 1. A iire shield for belt openings in iioors and walls comprising ashell surrounding `the opening and provided with a passage for the belt, a gravity operatedl roller for closing said passage, and heat-controlled means for normally holding theroller in its open position, said means including a de tent 'movable into and out of the path of movement of the roller;

2. A fire shield .for belt openings coin .nrisin a shell surrounding said o eninand having a corresponding passage for a belt, a gravity'joperated member movable bodily within the shell across the passage, and heat-controlled means for holding said member in its open position.

3. 'A re shield for belt openings comprising a shell having a passage'for a belt, a normallyopen self closing member vInovable bodily within the shell across the passage, and means for holding said member in its normal position, said means having a portion thereof destructible by heat under a' comparatively low temperature.

4f. A fire shield for wall and Hoor open-Y ings comprising Aa shell having a passage way registering with said opening7 a normally open self closing member for said passage movable bodily within the shell, and

mechanism holding said member in its nor:

mal position and having one ofits parts4 destructible by heat under a comparatively low temperature, said mechanism also including a detent movable into and out of the path of movement of said member.

y 5. A fire shield for the'purpose described'` comprising a shell having a passage therethrough, a roller movable across the passage, a detent projecting into the path of the-roller for holding it at one side of the passage, and means includingv a heat-de struetible member for holding the detent in 6. A re shield comprising a shell having a passage-way for a belt, a gravity operate roller for closing the passage-way, and heat controlled means for normally roller in its inoperative position.

7. A re'shield-comprising a shell having a passage-Way for a belt, a roller movable in the shell and operating under its own gravity to close the passage-Way and to force such belt againstone side thereof, a paWl normally holding the roller at one side of the passage, pivoted means' for engaging and. detaining-the paWl in its holding position and heat controlled means for holding the pivo'red meansv in engagement With the paul.

A device for preventing acoess of fire to parts of a building comprising a shell having a passageway for a liexible Web, a gravity operated roller'for closing the passageway, and heat controlled means for norholding the i lma'lly holding the roller in its linoperative positio .y

9. A device for preventing access of re to parts 'of a building comprising a shell having a passagewa for a flexible web2 a gravity operated rol er normally held in 1noperative position above said passageway, thermally controlled means for releasing said roller, and an inclined path beneath said roller for guiding said roller into cooperative lrelationto said Web to closesaid passageway.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 9th day of September 1910.

` DAVID S. IVATSON. Witnesses:

H. E. CHAsE, E. F. SPEARING.

Copies o! in# 1 patentmay be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. aff Patents.

' Washington, D. C. 

